ABOUT HAPPINESS

ABOUT HAPPINESS

Someone would like to accomplish great goals in this life. In order to achieve that, he  studied hard his whole life. Finally he received a doctorate degree. Doctorate, doctorate, doctorate! Before getting the doctorate degree, he  has been so pressured and stressed so that he could not feel relaxed at all. On the day he graduated he is very happy, and goes to the pub with friends to celebrate, and he has a great time! Then afterwards he goes home and has a great night's sleep. 

The next morning he wakes up feeling a bit stressed with some emptiness in his heart. Something seems a bit wrong, and he is feeling a little unhappy, why?? Oh, he figures it out, because he doesn't have a job. So now he needs to find a job. Job, job, job! Finally, he finds a satisfactory job and celebrates. 

After a few days, he begins to feel stressed again. Why? Because he wants to strive for a promotion. He makes an effort and finally, he gets to the position he strives for. He is so happy! But after a few days he is unhappy and feel stressed again. And finally he gets promoted to be President, CEO. Wow! At this moment he is thinking from now on my life will be very happy... But in his heart he feels regretful, not happiness, he is not happy at all. So one day, he is in his fancy office, perhaps on Wall Street, in a skyscraper with a view of Central Park, smoking a cigarette, he is thinking "Why is it that I still don't feel happy?"

Suddenly there's a knock at the door. Who can it be? Normally people are not allowed to come into his office. Who dares to knock! He feels a bit annoyed. He opens the door and it's the Chairman of the Board to deliver a message, " Thank you so much for all you've done for the company all these years!" He is now 75 years old, and is retiring with grey hair. Actually he has had a very successful career but he still doesn't feel completely happy. Why is that?       

Scientists recently did a lot of research on the topic of fulfillment. Everyone has a set of basic boundaries which allows them to feel a fulfillment. Many people assume that money, power, or fame will provide satisfaction and happiness, but scientists behind the research found that these things cannot bring real happiness in the long run. People with good interpersonal skills and relationship fare better, but the most important thing is to achieve fulfillment through inner transformation. In other words, meditation is the most important factor to achieving self fulfillment. Through inner transformation you will have more chances to experience a sense of satisfaction and happiness. That is to say, you will be more happy because true happiness comes from within. So how do you find inner true happiness? It begins with the training of awareness.

(Mingyur Rinpoche)